Rep Thompson issues statement: ‘would not misuse, intimidate or bully officers’ after St. Paul police incident

Independent State Representative John Thompson of St. Paul is under scrutiny after a run-in with St. Paul police on Sunday. Police pulled over a van with expired tabs driven by a 26-year-old woman–later identified as Thompson’s daughter. According to police, the driver was uncooperative and refused to get out for a field sobriety test. Officers say Thompson pulled up yelling at officers and identified himself by handing out his business cards, which include his state representative title. The officers told the driver she could leave with Thompson and she’d be charged out of custody. Thompson issued a statement today saying he “would not attempt to misuse, intimidate or bully officers” with his official position. Thompson says his daughter was having “a verifiable mental health episode.” Thompson was in the news last year after being pulled over in St. Paul for not having a front license plate. During the stop, Thompson accused the officer of racially profiling him.